A masked man crept into a block of flats to "tax" drug dealers and came out dripping with blood - but no-one still knows what happened.

Ben George, 26, wore a hat and a mask that "completely covered his face" for his intended raid on Bathurst Street flats, off Hessle Road, and "crouched down out of view" while a female accomplice pressed the intercom, Hull Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Phillip Evans said: "Mr George had something in his right hand at that stage. It's not possible to say exactly what it was at that stage."

The woman was able to get both of them in, before George "ran upstairs". Exactly what happened in the west Hull flats is still "shrouded in mystery", though, as George's apparent targets had refused to co-operate with police, despite being injured.

JAILED: Ben George, who was left 'dripping with blood' after trying to 'tax' drug dealers

There was "blood in the flat" and two men in it were injured while George was there, Mr Evans said.

"The Crown can't say how they came by their injuries," he said.

"The Crown can't say who did what to who, due to the total refusal of the victims even to allow the police access to their medical records.

"The Crown can say Mr George left the premises with a knife. As he left it's clear Mr George's blood is spilled - he drips blood as he leaves the flats."

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George was arrested days later and declined to answer questions in interview.

Mr Evans said: "The investigation of this matter and subsequent prosecution have been bedevilled by the refusal of the occupants of a flat in Bathurst Street to give any co-operation at all to the police.

"So it is I prosecute this case on the basis that when Mr George entered the flats he did so as a trespasser, and that he did so with the intention of stealing drugs from within one of the flats."

"This was a taxing operation," said Recorder Simon Jackson QC.

"So it is colloquially known, your honour, and I know that is the case because my learned friend [defence barrister Richard Thompson] is instructed to admit it on his client's behalf."

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George, of no fixed address, admitted burglary with intent to steal, and having a bladed article. He was on licence at the time following a three-year prison sentence for two offences of wounding.

Jailing him for two years, the judge told George: "You are a man who has a significant criminal record, also serving three years for robbery, thus demonstrating your willingness to use violence to steal with the threat or use of violence."